PMRDA and Switzerland to develop India’s first carbon-neutral township in Pune

Pune, September 19, 2019: In the 71st year of India-Switzerland friendship treaty, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) under Government of Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 2000Watt Smart City Association (2000WSCA) for development of carbon-neutral, smart townships in Pune on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at J.W. Marriot, Senpati Bapat road.

With an aim to constrain carbon emission and enhance energy sufficiency in its approach towards development of Pune, the PMRDA along with 2000WSCA, which is authorized to represent 2000WattSite, an intellectual property of Swiss Federal Office of energy of Swiss Confederationwill plan and develop a carbon-neutral sustainable township, which will provide environment-friendly and better living to its future inhabitants and also enhance trade of innovative technologies.

2000Watt Smart City will be a new label developed under this agreement, which will be the combination of 2000WattSite and Smart City India regulatory guidelines. The label will create new joint intellectual property of 2000WSCA and PMRDA for its application in Maharashtra.

Speaking on the occasion, Othmar Hardegger said, “We have developed a strategy to support India in establishing carbon-neutral smart townships and will work closely with PMRDA. For Smart City project Maharashtra is an important place and Pune in particular is a focal point for investment as the economy here is attractive. I am optimistic that the township project will attract investors from India and Switzerland as well.”

According to Vikram Kumar, the first-ever carbon-neutral township will open new avenues for people and upgrade technology in different sectors.

“The smart township model will be designed on the structure of the townships in Switzerland. Thecarbon-neutral townships will consist of 12 different themes which will focus on specialized areas like Agricultural cluster, Emerging Technology and Tourism, Fintech, Start-ups and Healthcare. We’ll invite people to invest in the town planning scheme and also develop the model on land belonging to PMRDA. If the project is successful, then it can be adopted across the state,” he said.

Madhav Bhagwat said, “This development will attract investments of over USD 1 billion in infrastructure segment and other establishments in various industries in Pune.”

We have developed a strategy to support India in establishing carbon-neutral smart townships and will work closely with PMRDA. For Smart City project Maharashtra is an important place and Pune in particular is a focal point for investment as the economy here is attractive.